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Forrest General Hospital recognized by the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency

HATTIESBURG, MS – (July 27, 2016) The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) served as host for the 3rd Annual Spero Awards on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at the Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson. The awards ceremony recognized hospital partners, medical professionals, corporate partners and donor ambassadors who work tirelessly in conjunction with MORA to promote organ, eye and tissue donation to ultimately save and heal lives.

“All of Forrest General’s staff members go above and beyond to help families and MORA in the donation process. Forrest General is second only to UMC in the state for helping the most number of people receive a lifesaving organ transplant. This would not be possible without the working relationship that has continually grown stronger and stronger between MORA and FGH,” said Joel Stevens, CPTC, MORA Hospital Development Coordinator.

Forrest General received Spero Awards for Best Medical Management and Most Supportive Organ & Tissue Hospital. The Best Medical Management Award defines a hospital that optimizes the potential for the most organs to be transplanted to save the most lives. The Most Supportive Organ and Tissue Hospital Award is given to a hospital that collaborates with MORA in regards to ensuring that patients and their families are given the opportunity to make a decision about donation. Brian Williamson, Forrest General’s Pastoral Care coordinator, was honored as Chaplain of the Year.

Williamson said, “It takes us all to provide ‘world class care.’ All of our chaplains are wonderful and supportive—our physicians and clinical staff look to our chaplains to come alongside families to be helpful, and without our team really coming together, what we are called to do as a healthcare facility wouldn’t be possible. My faith compels me to be an organ donor.”

A total of 15 Spero Awards were presented to individuals and organizations from areas throughout the state as well as one Special Recognition Spero Award. The word “Spero” (Spā-rō) is Latin for “hope.” The title was chosen to reflect the hope that organ and tissue donation brings to those in need of a lifesaving organ or a life improving tissue transplant.

For more information about Forrest General, visit forrestgeneral.com.

Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency

A new patient is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes and an average of 22 people die each day awaiting a lifesaving transplant that never comes. Currently there are nearly 1,500 Mississippians on the organ transplant waiting list with over 1,300 of those waiting on a kidney transplant. MORA wants everyone to know one organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can save or improve the lives of 50 recipients or more. Join the 745,000+ Mississippians who are currently on the MS Donor Registry by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.donatelifems.org. For more information on the MORA please go to www.msora.org.

Media Contact

All media related inquiries should be directed to Amanda Kirby, Media Coordinator, by email or phone at 601-288-1303.